On Friday, an Air India flight AI612, en route from Jaipur to Mumbai, was compelled to return to Jaipur International Airport shortly after takeoff due to a suspected technical issue. The aircraft was only airborne for approximately 18 minutes before the pilots decided to turn back as a precautionary measure.

Following the unscheduled landing, Air India initiated a thorough inspection of the aircraft. According to an official statement, the "troubleshooting checks were carried out, and it was determined to be a false indication". Once the aircraft received clearance, it resumed its journey to Mumbai.

Air India has emphasized that the safety and well-being of its passengers remains their top priority. The airline has also expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by the disruption.

This incident occurred amidst increased scrutiny of airline operations in India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been closely monitoring flight safety protocols. Just two days prior, a Doha-bound Air India Express flight was forced to return to Calicut International Airport due to a technical fault in the cabin AC. On the same day, another Air India Express flight bound for Mumbai aborted takeoff at Delhi airport due to a technical snag.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Indian airlines have reported 183 technical defects to the aviation regulator as of July 21st of this year. The Air India Group, including Air India Express, has reported the highest number of snags, totaling 85. In the past 5 years, Air India along with its subsidiary has reported nearly 541 technical snags.